Iran World Cup Squad Arrives in Mexico Amid Diplomatic Strains with United States

TIJUANA: Iran’s national football team has arrived in the Mexican border city of Tijuana ahead of its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign in the United States as ongoing tensions between Tehran and Washington continue to cast a shadow over the tournament.

The Iranian squad landed shortly after 5 a.m. local time on Sunday following an overnight flight from Turkey, where the team had spent the past three weeks preparing for the competition.

The arrival comes after Iranian football officials made a late decision to relocate the team’s World Cup base camp from Arizona to Mexico, citing uncertainty over U.S. visa approvals for players and support staff.

Although U.S. authorities ultimately granted visas to all members of the playing squad on Friday, just 10 days before Iran’s opening match, several support personnel were denied entry permits. According to the Iranian Football Federation, those affected include a number of key managerial and administrative officials.

The visa delays have highlighted the broader political tensions between Iran and the United States, turning the world’s biggest football tournament into a stage for international soft-power rivalry as well as sporting competition.

Iran will begin its Group G campaign against New Zealand near Los Angeles on June 15 before taking on Belgium on June 21. The team will then travel to Seattle for its final group-stage match against Egypt on June 26.

Despite the logistical challenges, Iranian officials remain focused on the team’s preparations as they seek to advance beyond the group stage in one of the tournament’s most closely watched campaigns.

The 2026 World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, is expected to draw global attention not only for the action on the pitch but also for the geopolitical narratives surrounding several participating nations.